Design practice research: uncovering the role of spatial intelligence in designing and in reviewing design of the built environment. This project will result in the identification and methodical analysis of spatial intelligence as deployed by Architects, Landscape Architects and Urban Designer practitioners. It will also explore improvements and invention of new design policies and design procurement procedures which are informed by deeper understandings of Spatial Intelligence.
Redesigning the Suburb: A Landscape Architectural Inquiry. A Perth-based multi-disciplinary design project is to seek out ways in which new practices in suburban development can improve a sense of place in new suburbs in accord with community aspirations. Current development codes will be explored and challenged, focussing on infrastructure and ecology. Perth is a city in the bush, eating into its famous flora, but the outcomes of this project will just as easily apply to Queensland or Tasmania ....Redesigning the Suburb: A Landscape Architectural Inquiry. A Perth-based multi-disciplinary design project is to seek out ways in which new practices in suburban development can improve a sense of place in new suburbs in accord with community aspirations. Current development codes will be explored and challenged, focussing on infrastructure and ecology. Perth is a city in the bush, eating into its famous flora, but the outcomes of this project will just as easily apply to Queensland or Tasmania in regard to improving biodiversity, maintaining a sense of original topography, improving wise water use, and influencing the conception and construction of new suburban areas by the development industry.
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Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagem ....Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagement with the profession. Expected outcomes include two toolkits to assist the profession to support cultural change across educational, workplace and institutional settings. This should provide significant benefits for the wellbeing of architects at all career stages, and also support the long-term viability of the sector.Read moreRead less
Gene Mining For Novel Molecular Determinants Of The Skeleton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$633,447.00
Summary
Musculoskeletal conditions affect over 6 million Australians and research has shown that genetic background strongly influences development of these disorders. This project will identify genes that have a role in controlling bone and joint architecture. Identification of these genes will assist in the development of treatments targeting bone disorders and allow screening for these genes to provide an opportunity for people to take preventative action to improve bone and joint health.
Urban salinity in Kalgoorlie-Boulder: Causes, extent and treatment through revegetation - a pilot study for Australian rural towns. The National Land and Water Resources Audit suggests that salinity will threaten 200 towns in Australia by 2050. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has a salinity problem caused by shallow, saline groundwater. This project will: (a) document and map the extent and causes of salinity, (b) determine whether salinity can be controlled through improved surface drainage an ....Urban salinity in Kalgoorlie-Boulder: Causes, extent and treatment through revegetation - a pilot study for Australian rural towns. The National Land and Water Resources Audit suggests that salinity will threaten 200 towns in Australia by 2050. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has a salinity problem caused by shallow, saline groundwater. This project will: (a) document and map the extent and causes of salinity, (b) determine whether salinity can be controlled through improved surface drainage and revegetation, and (c) conduct adaptation trials of ornamental trees and shrubs for tolerance to salt, waterlogging and inundation. The work will be conducted in partnership with the City Council and local Urban Landcare Group. Outcomes will be disseminated through WA's Rural Towns Program, national conferences and scientific papers.Read moreRead less
Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions w ....Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions will be re-evaluated in the context of contemporary economic, social and environmental criteria to enable existing multi-criteria models to deliver more sustainable outcomes that are also feasible and in the national interest, and consequently minimise the industry's current exposure to future climate change.Read moreRead less
Ecophysiological limitations that affect water and carbon balance within large tree canopies: a comparative investigation. Supply of water to forest canopies is a major control of hydrological, atmospheric and biotic processes that impinge on groundwater stability, catchment yield, the fate of pollutants and plant productivity. Fundamental aspects of water transport and distribution within plant tissues remain obscured by conflicting experimental data and conflicting theoretical models that des ....Ecophysiological limitations that affect water and carbon balance within large tree canopies: a comparative investigation. Supply of water to forest canopies is a major control of hydrological, atmospheric and biotic processes that impinge on groundwater stability, catchment yield, the fate of pollutants and plant productivity. Fundamental aspects of water transport and distribution within plant tissues remain obscured by conflicting experimental data and conflicting theoretical models that describe physiological functioning.
Potential hydraulic constraints to the exchange of water and carbon between leaf and atmosphere require investigation before accurate models and informed decisions can be made with respect to the role of forests in biosphere-atmosphere processes. I will use large trees to investigate physiological and morphological determinants of hydraulic function and consider relationships between tree size, water requirements and water supply.
This project will foster comparative analyses of hydraulic functioning in large angiosperm and conifer species to elucidate universal principles that relate form to function and explain relationships between trees and their environment.
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More bang for your carbon buck: carbon, biodiversity and water balance consequences of whole-catchment carbon farming. Farming carbon via tree plantings on pasture land is becoming increasingly common to address the effects of climate change. This activity is likely to produce dramatic changes in Australia's rural landscapes, but we have little knowledge of likely effects on crucial ecosystem services and attributes such as stream water yields and biodiversity. This project will investigate the ....More bang for your carbon buck: carbon, biodiversity and water balance consequences of whole-catchment carbon farming. Farming carbon via tree plantings on pasture land is becoming increasingly common to address the effects of climate change. This activity is likely to produce dramatic changes in Australia's rural landscapes, but we have little knowledge of likely effects on crucial ecosystem services and attributes such as stream water yields and biodiversity. This project will investigate the relationship between tree cover, carbon uptake, water yield and biodiversity. The outcomes will allow government agencies, landowners and carbon farming groups to better evaluate the effects of different landscape planning options and contribute to effective long-term planning for multiple goals.Read moreRead less
Fire management of complex rehabilitated forests - quantifying and understanding spatial variability of forest structure and fuels. Up to 5 million ha of forest is burnt by bushfire in Australia in severe fire years. The cost of fire suppression in 2002/3 in WA was in excess of 12 million dollars. Consequently, development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing fire management and reducing wildfire risk is of high priority and substantial economic, social and environmental b ....Fire management of complex rehabilitated forests - quantifying and understanding spatial variability of forest structure and fuels. Up to 5 million ha of forest is burnt by bushfire in Australia in severe fire years. The cost of fire suppression in 2002/3 in WA was in excess of 12 million dollars. Consequently, development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing fire management and reducing wildfire risk is of high priority and substantial economic, social and environmental benefit. The opportunity to conduct experimental fires across a complex landscape will enable calibration and development of technologies not previously possible. This research will define the way prescribed fire is used to integrate young rehabilitated forest into management of the broader landscape and develop more cost-effective tools for fire management.Read moreRead less
Drivers and barriers to sustainability in residential and commercial buildings. In acknowledging that climate change is one of the greatest moral and economic challenges of our time, the federal Government is committed to Australia's internationally agreed target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. In its efforts to achieve this, the Government is supporting various initiatives including the development of renewable energy technology. In Australia, buildings contribute almost one-quarter of ou ....Drivers and barriers to sustainability in residential and commercial buildings. In acknowledging that climate change is one of the greatest moral and economic challenges of our time, the federal Government is committed to Australia's internationally agreed target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. In its efforts to achieve this, the Government is supporting various initiatives including the development of renewable energy technology. In Australia, buildings contribute almost one-quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions. This research will identify methods that assist in the nationwide uptake of sustainability practices, including the use of micro-generation technology, to help improve building performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less